Portage County Ohio WIC

05/29/2026

One week to go until our next Pop-Up Food Pantry!

Portage County Health District, in partnership with Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, is hosting our next Pop-Up Food Pantry on Thursday, June 4th! Stop by between 1:00pm-3:00PM and walk through our market area for fresh food and access to additional community resources. Volunteers will be on sight to help you through the market, with wheelchairs and wagons available if needed.

📅 Date: Thursday, June 4
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Portage County Health District
999 East Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266

Explore Additional Food Resources:

PCHD Food Resource Dashboard
🔗 https://www.arcgis.com/.../c92774ced7894f37a7bc069400a237c0
(Also available on our website under: Our Programs → Community Health → Food Resources Dashboard)

Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank Find Help Tool
🔗 https://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/find-help

05/29/2026

Iodine is an essential mineral during all stages of life! ❤️

Iodine supports the thyroid by producing hormones necessary to regulate metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature. 🌡️ Iodine is also important during pregnancy! Regular iodine intake helps form the cerebral cortex, neural pathways, and hippocampus, helping your baby’s cognitive development! 🧠
The body cannot store iodine for long periods of time, so try to incorporate iodine regularly into your diet! Dairy, seaweed, and seafood are all plentiful sources of iodine. 🐟

To learn more about how WIC can support your family please call our office at 330-297-9422.🫶

05/28/2026

🫛 Peas are the WIC-approved food of the month! Peas are packed with health benefits, and they’re a highly versatile kitchen staple that can be eaten raw, steamed, boiled, roasted, or pan-fried 💪

Peas are packed with antioxidants that help build your immune system. They also contain carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which can protect your eyes from chronic diseases! 👀 Peas are also a great source of protein and fiber, helping your body break down carbohydrates and manage your blood sugar! 🌟

This month, try incorporating peas in your family's diet. You can even experiment with different methods of cooking them. Let us know your favorite way! 💭

To learn more about how WIC can support your family please call our office at 330-297-9422.🫶

05/27/2026

Please join us in welcoming Candace Farrell, our new WIC Clinic Assistant! 🫶

Please join us in welcoming Candace Farrell, our new WIC Clinic Assistant!

Candace will play an important role in supporting both our WIC team and the families we serve through a combination of clinical and administrative support. In her position, she will assist with client intake, perform clinical procedures such as obtaining height and weight measurements, participate in community outreach initiatives, and serve as a member of our breastfeeding support team.

Welcome to the team, Candace!

05/27/2026

Just like during pregnancy, eating healthy and nutrient-dense foods while breastfeeding or pumping is important! WIC offers specialized food packages for parents who are breastfeeding or combo-feeding their child up to 12 months old. 🥗🥑🍳

Your local WIC clinic may also provide breastfeeding and pumping supplies, and many parents can access free lactation support from peer counselors and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs).

To learn more about how WIC can support your family please call our office at 330-297-9422.🫶

05/26/2026

May is Month!

💗At WIC, we are proud to provide compassionate care and health resources. We are here to support you, and we can help connect you with the resources you deserve! 🫂

To learn more about how WIC can support your family please call our office at 330-297-9422.🫶

05/22/2026

Portage County WIC Office will be Closed Monday, May 25, 2026 in observance of Memorial Day.

Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

05/21/2026

Did you know?

Your baby’s skin can play a role in whether they develop a food allergy! Even before your baby is introduced to solids and new foods, they can still still come into direct contact with food allergens through their skin. If this happens regularly, it may increase their chances of developing an allergy to that particular food.

Studies show that while eating an allergen early can protect your baby from that food allergy, but if that same food touches their skin regularly, it can actually raise the risk of an allergy.

So how can you do to help protect your baby’s skin? We suggest: Wash your hands after eating, especially if the food you ate is a common allergen. Then wash your hands again before touching your baby’s skin, such as during diaper changes or when putting on lotions or creams.

To learn more about this and other food allergy topics, visit www.fampitfamily.org.

To learn more about how WIC can support your family please call our office at 330-297-9422.🫶

05/20/2026

Did you know there’s something you can do to help prevent your baby from developing food allergies?

Evidence shows that introducing of major food allergens early can significantly lower the risk of food allergies among children. 💡

You can introduce safely food allergens at the same time you start to offer other solid foods to your baby by taking steps like:
🔹 Paying attention to timing: Start offering food allergens to your baby when they are developmentally ready, around 4 to 6 months, when other solids are introduced.
🔹 Avoiding choking risks: Baby’s first foods should always be in baby friendly forms.
🔹 Being consistent: Any progress is a great start! The key is to be consistent and gradually increase the amount of each allergen they eat.
🔹 Offering lots of variety: While you don’t want to offer two new foods in the same meal, giving your baby a chance to try lots of different foods over time helps them experience different flavors, textures, and nutrients.
🔹 Keeping your healthcare and WIC team in the loop: Talk to your healthcare team and WIC clinic staff about food allergies early, even at your 1- or 3-month appointments or at WIC check-ins! They are here to support you with your feeding plans.
For more information on introducing allergens to your child’s diet, visit www.fampitfamily.org/early-allergen-introduction.
To learn more about how WIC can support your family please call our office at 330-297-9422.🫶

05/18/2026

It’s Women’s Health Month! ❤️

At WIC, we recognize the importance of taking care of your health and well-being. This month, we encourage you to learn more about prioritizing your health! Think about some ways you can think about your wellbeing:
🩺Schedule routine doctor visits and screenings.
🏃‍♀️Incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine!
🥗Maintain a balanced diet to ensure you get all the nutrients your body needs!
📣Raise awareness by educating yourself and the women around you.

All of us at WIC are here to help you be your healthiest self! 🩷

To learn more about how WIC can support your family please call our office at 330-297-9422.🌟

05/14/2026

May is Food Allergy Awareness Month 🗓️

It’s the perfect time to learn about food allergies in babies and toddlers and how to manage them in everyday life! A food allergy happens when the immune system overreacts to a specific protein (an allergen) in a food, treating it like a threat. This can trigger symptoms ranging from mild to severe, also known as an “allergic reaction.” 🍞🥛🥜

To learn more, visit www.fampitfamily.org, a website with resources to help families navigate the early years of food allergies with confidence and ease!

To learn more about how WIC can support your family please call our office at 330-297-9422.🫶